Hi,
Front command dial is in perfect in-line with housing. I should remove the plastic positioner/holder on base plate to try more but, did not have tools with me. Lens flange is not in center because of holder. To me, D200 Nexus housing has 90% chance to accomodate D300. I will try more next week when I return from a short trip.

If the lens is not in the center of the port but the viewfinder is perfectly aligned, then that is a problem. Lens needs to be in the center of the port for WA shooting so perhaps the acrylic backplate can be redone w/ the viewfinder moved???

Let's say the D300 matches up very well on the sides and front with the D200 housings, what is the likelihood that housing manufacturer’s would create a new back to their D200 housings to accommodate the rear controls and screen of the D300? Being too inexperienced to really know how housing manufacturers meet their targets, I think both from a manufacturing and sales position it makes sense. But, I am skeptical (or more so, cynical) of this type of support from the housing manufacturers being offered, though I would thoroughly LOVE to be proven wrong! Does this make sense to them, is there a good track record of housing manufacturer's embracing and employing this idea and concept? We all wish for it, but do the manufactuers care what we all wish for? What has history told us? Those of you in know, what do you think?

P.S. I'm not referring to Ikelite here, its easy for them to do this, its what they do.

Case in point, the Canon 400D/ XTi. It is identical in size to the 350D/XT. Only a row of buttons needed to be shifted on the rear to accomodate the 400D's larger LCD. Some people including myself have made simple modifications to the housing back buttons. Instead of coming out with just a modified back, Sea & Sea introduced a brand new housing, TOOK OFF key buttons (go figure?), SLAPPED ON a TTL converter internally (so now its not a $400 option), and put a higher price tag on the new housing (since it now includes the TTL converter)...

OK - any comments from the industry folks on the "less expensive" way to upgrade the existing D200 housings for the D300 - or - as I suspect are they holding off until they have a D300 body to physically play with - and are they even willing to try to make nice with all of us poor D200 owners out there?Andy